Archive · 2 Oct 2026
India Warned It Faces Growing Competition In Global Tourism
India wants more people from around the world to visit.
Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said many places are competing for these travelers.
He named Europe, China, Japan and several other countries as competitors.
Japan was praised for carefully managing its tourism reopening and maintaining service quality.
Europe attracts visitors through its heritage and developed tourism facilities.
China’s recent reopening may make people curious to visit.
The United Arab Emirates is creating new tourism experiences as it responds to challenges involving hydrocarbon fuels.
Shekhawat said India should improve its work, market its special experiences and promote Kolkata as a MICE destination.
Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said India faces competition from Europe, China, Japan and other destinations.
He cited Japan’s precision, service quality and destination management as competitive strengths.
Shekhawat said Europe benefits from its heritage and mature tourism infrastructure, while China’s reopening could generate visitor curiosity.
He also named the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Brazil as competitors.
The minister urged India to improve its pace, promote distinctive experiences and develop Kolkata as a MICE destination.
- Who
- Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
- What
- He warned that India faces growing international competition in attracting global travelers.
- When
- Thursday.
- Where
- At the ICC Hospitality & Tourism Summit; Kolkata was also discussed as a potential MICE destination.
- Why
- India must improve tourism services, destination management, marketing and distinctive experiences to avoid falling behind competitors.
- Speaker
- Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, India’s union tourism minister
- Main issue
- International competition for global travelers
- Competitors cited
- Europe, China, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Brazil
- Japan’s strengths
- Precision, service quality and destination management
- Europe’s strengths
- Heritage and mature tourism infrastructure
- India’s proposed response
- Increase the pace of work, market unique experiences and improve tourism efforts
- City proposed
- Kolkata as a MICE destination